Malware Masquerading As Games: The New Frontier Of Gaming Scams
Bitdefender, October 3,2025
Gamers are nothing if not a curious bunch - they always look for new releases and download mods to enhance old favorites. And if we also include indie games, the recipe for a potent and extremely dangerous attack vector is ripe for the taking.
Like any other consumer group, gamers have their weakness. They can't be targeted with the same messages, but the same motivations apply. It might be curiosity, urgency, punishment, a prize, or all of the above.
Criminals tend to target casual gamers or streamers who are eager to showcase something fresh. Anyone who connects payment systems or crypto wallets to their gaming accounts is a target. Cybercriminals sometimes use the same formula across Discord, Twitch, and Steam - disguise malware as a game, then wait for someone to install it.